PLCB: Raising markup on liquor a “last resort”

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The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Chairman spoke Wednesday about a leaked memo that urged the board to raise the markup on wine and liquor.

He says changing the markup from 30 to 35 percent would be a “last resort” and he’s personally opposed to it right now.

The board says the memo was only informational, and not an actual plan.

“The memo was really just a financial document that is given to us every year, I’ve been here now for three years, and such a document is provided to the board on an annual basis for the next fiscal year,” says Chairman Joseph Brion.

The memo came from the finance department as a solution to offset rising costs, which are going up because of pensions, healthcare costs and computer upgrades.

The chairman did say if they raised the markup, it would be up to vendors whether they raised the price of liquor and wine.

Conservative think tank, the Commonwealth Foundation issued a statement saying the memo shows the state liquor system is not a cash-cow, and the PLCB’s financial condition will burden rather than benefit taxpayers.